Pen Connoisseurs and Pen Refills

Our business is frequented by, what I call, pen connoisseurs. They could tell you why pen x is better than pen y, what characteristics make it different, when it smudges, and what they use it for. When the packaging changes, they spot it immediately. If the manufacturer changes the pen's design or appearance, they will ask me to special order old stock for them.

To others, this may sound silly, but these are my customers and this is what keeps them coming back. Recently, I have noticed an increase in "non-regulars." Their stories are similar, they have a sentimental pen or one that they "picked up somewhere," fell in love with, and now can't refill. It's these narratives that make my day: the 30-years of service pen, the exorbitantly priced guilty pleasure pen, the "daily driver" (the pen you write with every day and would be lost without), etc.

Where have all the refills gone? As giant office supply companies continue to absorb each other, SKUs are cut, product lines are thinned, and profit margins increase. Why sell a pen refill for $4 when you can buy a dozen for 99 cents? What big business fails to see is that there is no character in a pen that was made in China for fractions of a penny. Without the emotional connection, a pen is just a pen.

Now I can understand why high end manufacturers, like Montblanc, have coined the term "writing instrument." In 2007, Montblanc sold a pen writing instrument for $700,000 . While Montblanc limits distribution of these high end pens through its boutiques, if the person who bought the pen came into my store, I'd be more than happy to sell them a refill.

So, pen refills, welcome to the Office Graveyard.

Come on in, get comfortable, and stay a while.

Spirit Duplicator aka Ditto Machine

In the office supply industry, it is rare to find a new use for a product once it has become obsolete. For example, thermal fax machines made their way to the office graveyard when inkjet and laser machines came out. The same could be said about many of the items that we sell and write about. But, spirit duplicators are one item that has experienced a total reincarnation.

Spirit duplicators, aka Ditto machines, were invented in 1923 and were the predecessor of the copy machine. You typed or wrote on the master sheet, which was reproduced by the machine using a rotating drum (some were manual and others electric). The generic name "spirit duplicator" derives its name from the solvents used by the machine, which were primarily alcohol. These chemicals gave the copies that characteristic smell (if you are too young to remember it, watch the classic scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, when entire class sniffs the freshly made dittos).

Today, the machines have made a resurgence with underground print houses and amateur press companies. However, the biggest user of these machines presently is the tattoo industry. So, while today's aromatic pages may not contain math or spelling tests, the A. B. Dick Company (creator of the Ditto brand name) should be proud that they are helping to reinvent the term "ink".

Polaroid Instant Film Camera

This month Polaroid announced that they will stop producing the instant film that made them a household name over 60 years ago. The company sights digital photography as the reason for the decision and admits that it failed to adapt to this changing industry. Upon hearing the news, I began to think about the photography industry and realized that they are quite similar to us office supply dealers.

For example, at one time, there were nine different independent office supply dealers in our city. Today, we are the only one remaining in a 40 mile radius. The same can be said about your local photo shop. As a child, my parents would visit our neighborhood camera store weekly to develop our pictures (my folks were 35mm enthusiasts and rarely used Polaroid). Today, there are no independent photo places around.

Are printed photos dead? Nowadays, most people say, "Can you send me (i.e. via email) that photo when you have a chance?" In addition, sales of inkjet photo printers area down suggesting that digital photo services and email may have send the printed photo to an early grave.

Dome Books

We live in a society overrun with computers. Our cars have them. So do our phones. Toasters, too. We use them to chat with friends, access information, write documents, and keep track of our finances. For me, the latter has been quite a task. I'm a traditionalist (obviously, I started a website about old office supplies). With a couple basic accounting classes under my belt, my trusty HP 12C, and a Dome book, I can keep up with the best of them.

Fortunately, our business has outgrown the paper-based accounting system. While the computer accounting software is very powerful, it has its quirks. It is very easy to double enter things and often the software's "my way or the highway" approach forces you to input data a certain way.

At Office Graveyard, we sell a ton of Dome books. Why? Because, people want to do their books on their terms. No expensive software, hardware crashes, or reeducation needed. Simple line by line data entry makes accounting, payroll, and budgeting a breeze. The best part, Dome books are IRS approved and have remained virtually unchanged for over 60 years. This is what makes the Dome book a welcome member of the Office Graveyard.

GBC Bates List Finder

Click on any of the above thumbnails for a larger image.

While it may not be the face that launched a thousand ships, it is the product that launched Office Graveyard. The list finder is one of those items that we were sad to see go. While there may have been others out there, the Rolodex, the Autodex, and various other competitors, they just weren't the same. If you still have one, then you're in luck! Or, if you've found one at a tag sale or on eBay. All you can do is hope that the previous owner had the foresight to write in pencil.

On any given day, there are approximately a dozen on eBay. I have found that you can find them be searching for the following words: list finder, listfinder, gbc bates, telephone directory, pop-up telephone index, etc.



While previously loved units are easier to find, unused and new items are worth their weight in gold, on average selling for $70-$125 each. Refills are also very rare, so it may be beneficial to buy one simply for the cards.

To help you with your quest, here is a description from our catalog explaining the differences between the various models and the refills associated with each. This data is circa 1998, so earlier models, colors, and information are likely available.

GBC Bates Director:

• All metal construction with lustrous plastic trim. Matching telephone colors. Includes extra wide cards, memo pad in base and area code card. Space for 1,300 entries.
• Available colors: Beige (GBC 9828821), Brown (GBC 9828822), Black (GBC 9828823), Burgundy (GBC 9828821)
• Refill: GBC 9828394

GBC Bates Classic:

• Features durable metal construction, wide cards, memo pad in base. Space to record 1,300 names, phone numbers and addresses.
• Available colors: Walnut with Brushed Brass Trim (GBC 9828960)
• Refill: GBC 9828394

GBC Bates Model 2000:

• A sleek, low profile and horizontal, alphabetic indicator give modern styling to desktop decor. Wide lined card with space for over 800 listings.
• Available colors: Black (GBC 9839942)
• Refill: GBC 9828689

GBC Bates Designer:

• Features a sleek, contemporary design at an affordable price. Space for 1,380 entries.
• Available colors: Black (GBC 9819018)
• Refill: GBC 9819018

GBC Bates Pencilist:

• Unique list finder with easily available pencil. All-metal construction in popular finishes. space for 1,350 listings.
• Available colors: Walnut with Black Trim (GBC 9819808), Walnut with Brown Trim (GBC 9819809)
  
• Refill: GBC 9819018

GBC Bates Secretary:

• Handsome telephone index at an economical price. Space for 1,350 entries. Sturdy metal construction.
• Available colors: Black (GBC 9819813), Burgundy (GBC 9819865)
• Refill: GBC 9819654

The Preface

Early in 2001, I began to notice an increasing number of customers who were looking for particular items that they could not find anymore. Usually, our conversations began with "I'm not sure if you can help me, but..." or "I know I'm probably the only person left on the planet who uses these, but..." and after a little research, and some digging, they would leave my store satisfied with item in hand.

I began talking to friends, customers, and industry people about these experiences and they all spoke of similar occurrences. A customer, who brought in a Sears typewriter for supplies, told me:

I went to Sears to get a ribbon for my typewriter. I walked in, asked the salesman where typewriter ribbons were and he sent me to Electronics. Electronics sent me to Hardware, who sent me to Appliances, who sent me to the Information Desk. I then asked to speak to a manager. When the manager arrived, I told him that I was looking for a ribbon for my typewriter. He told me Sears does not sell ribbon and that I would be better off going to an arts & craft store. After explaining to him what a ribbon was, he told me that Sears did not sell typewriters, and to his knowledge, never did.

I knew that this man was not alone. He wasn't the only person who still used a typewriter, or Dome book, list finder, or #4 pencil for that matter. But why were these things so hard to get? I know that there are many folks who love office supplies or could tell 10 different reasons why they like pen x over pen y. I am one of those people. And, so are you.

So, welcome to the Office Graveyard... Where good supplies go when they die.

Greetings from the Office Graveyard!

Welcome to the Office Graveyard Blog. The place where we bid a fond farewell to the office supplies, office furniture, and office machines that are no longer with us. As the Office Graveyard's Crypt Keeper, I encourage all to contribute. Leave your comments, share yours stories, images, and memories.

I know what you are thinking... a eulogy for office supplies? Yes. Like our family, friends, and pets these everyday items are very much a part of our life. Think I'm kidding? Think about the last time you went into a big box store and the the salesperson gave you "the look." You know the one I mean. Like he or she blacked out when you said "typewriter" or "list finder" and woke up dazed and disoriented when you walked away frustrated.